Biodegradable compost bin liner

ABSTRACT

A one-piece bifold bin liner is set forth comprising a first half and a second half joined at a bottom via a living hinge, such that when closed the two halves meet together to form a leakproof seal along both sides of the liner.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to organic waste receptacles, and more particularly to a biodegradable compost bin liner.

BACKGROUND

Organic waste receptacles, known in the Province of Ontario as “green bin” receptacles, are short, rigid containers used to collect biodegradable waste or compostable materials, such as food, soiled paper products, pet waste, sawdust, and similar items, for conversion to compost. The purpose of collecting organic waste is to reduce the amount of garbage shipped to landfills. In some localities green bins are also used to contain unsorted municipal waste. Such receptacles have been distributed to households in many municipalities throughout Canada and the United States for the collection of household compostable waste.

It is customary, but cumbersome, to use lined paper bags (similar to sandwich or small grocery bags) within the receptacle for collecting the organic waste. Lined paper bags typically do not fit the dimensions of the receptacle, often resulting in gaps between the hard plastic receptacle wall and the paper bag in which compostable materials are collected. Modification of the bags for proper fit is both inconvenient and difficult. Prior art paper bags are also often too tall to fit the hard plastic receptacle such that it can be difficult to close the receptacle lid, resulting in odour of the composting material permeating the ambient air.

It is an object of an aspect of the invention to obviate at least some of the disadvantages discussed above.

The following prior art is believe to be relevant: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,403,740; 6,312,823; 20080264029; 5,598,942; 20100252617; 5,178,469; 6,115,855; 3,647,111 and 20100051498.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary prior art organic waste receptacle with which an embodiment of the biodegradable compost bin liner according to the present invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a biodegradable compost bin liner according to an embodiment of the present invention, in an open position;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the biodegradable compost bin liner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an outside plan view of the biodegradable compost bin liner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an outside elevation view of the biodegradable compost bin liner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an inside plan view of the biodegradable compost bin liner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is side view of the prior art organic waste receptacle of FIG. 1, showing the biodegradable compost bin liner of FIG. 2 in situ; and

FIG. 8 is side view of an alternative prior art organic waste receptacle, showing the biodegradable compost bin liner according to an alternative embodiment, in situ.

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but is extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

Reference throughout this specification to “illustrated embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “illustrated embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of materials, sizes, lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.

As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

THE INVENTION

The biodegradable compost bin liner according to the present invention is preferably of recycled paper pulp construction that is molded to fit inside a hard plastic container, such as the prior art organic waste receptacle 10 of FIG. 1.

As discussed in greater detail below, the dimensions of the liner are preferably such that it fits substantially within the receptacle 10, with a snug fit of the liner within the receptacle so as to eliminate gaps and allow the lid 12 to close properly thereby substantially keeping the odour of the composting material within the receptacle. The molded liner is preferably 100% compostable and water/moisture resistant.

As shown in FIGS. 2-6, the illustrated embodiment of bin liner 20 is of one-piece bi-fold design comprising a first half 22 and a second half 24 joined at their respective bottom portions via a living hinge 26, such that when closed the two halves meet together to form a leak-proof seal along both sides of the liner, as discussed in greater detail below. Recycled paper slurry may be used for construction. Preferably, the paper slurry is vacuum-molded and heat dried into the bi-fold shape illustrated in FIGS. 2-6, to permit stacking of a plurality of bin liners 20 for easy transportation and storage prior to use.

In use, the two halves 22 and 24 are folded around hinge 26 into a closed (clamshell) configuration with an edge 27 of half 22 fitting inside an overlapping portion 28 of half 24 to form a water-tight seal. The assembled (closed) bin liner 20 is then inserted into the receptacle forming a snug fit, as shown in FIG. 7.

The liner is provided with a rounded lip 29 around the top portion of each half 22 and 24 to facilitate simple extraction of the liner from the receptacle, as well as added structural integrity. When the liner 20 is placed inside the receptacle 10, the lip 29 is positioned below the lid 12 to allow full closure of the lid.

While the forgoing is illustrative of the principles of the present invention in a particular application, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. In particular, variations in shape of the bin liner 20 are contemplated to fit different shapes of hard plastic receptacles. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, an elongated version of the bin liner according to the present invention may be provided for use with an organic waste receptacle that is a larger in size than receptacle 10, for outdoor storage of organic waste. Alternatively, an oval-shape design may be used wherein the side surfaces of halves 22 and 24 are rounded so as to fit within an oval-shaped receptacle. It is not intended that the invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A one-piece bifold bin liner adapted to fit inside an organic waste receptacle, comprising a first half and a second half joined at their respective bottom portions via a living hinge which, when open, permits stacking and when closed, joins said first half and second half together to form a leakproof seal along sides of said bin liner.
 2. The one-piece bifold bin liner of claim 1 wherein said first half and second half are constructed from recycled paper slurry.
 3. The one-piece bifold bin liner of claim 1 wherein said first half includes an edge adapted to fit inside an overlapping portion of said second half when said first half and second half are closed.
 4. The one-piece bifold bin liner of claim 1 wherein said first half and second half further include an inside rounded lip to facilitate extraction of the liner from the receptacle and provide structural integrity to the liner. 